You are trying to please 6 different individuals, who all have different taste preferences and ideas as to what they are looking for in presentation and tenderness. It's a crap shoot. It really is.
Question: The team that won the competition, were they local to the area where the contest was held? You said "we were the newest team and just about the only team that wasn't a caterer, full or part-time equipment manufacturer, vendor, or restaurant operator." Might have been a factor if some of the judges were use to someone's cooking.
Roger on the "crap shoot".
I am doing "data analysis" for the next week or two to identify the exact pluses and "take aways" we received. First look says we don't know what they are looking for when the box is opened, but love the taste and texture. We can fix "looks"--easy!
I have pics of the turn-ins. Once DF gets a chance to see them, I will post for the Brothers comments. We have already figured out some fixes and will proceed!
Winning team was kinda local, but all of them were.
No excuses there.
There was one neighbor for which we got to see his presentations. He was "really proud" of his work.
To be a bit "catty", it sure looked like a sculpted one to me with a mix of sliced and pulled aranged in a "unique manner". Now, in fairness, he would have to had drawn the "correct" judges or judge to influence the scoring. I would not have paid for that Q in a restaurant. But, he pulled down $ for some reason.
I am sure that all "lessor scored" teams feel the same way!
I have 4 years time as a judge in gymnastics.
I do not know how the judges in Q'uing make it!!!!!
The bottom line is that DF and I will break the code and kill'em!
TIM